New rules to boost gender balance in elections will apply in Italy for the first time in the European elections 2019.
These rules, introduced in 2014, say that electoral lists should be composed of male and female candidates in the same proportion (50%). The first two candidates in each list must be one man and one woman (in whichever order).
If a voter marks two or three candidates, she/he must include at least one female, otherwise both the second and third preferences would be annulled.
